Lota (vessel)

A lota (Hindi: लोटा; Odia: ଲୋଟା/ନୋଟା; Urdu: لوٹا) is a small, spouted, and rounded jug that has been used in the Indian subcontinent[1] since the 2nd millennium BCE or earlier.

The design itself serves multiple purposes; a copper lota is commonly used in Indian religious ceremonies, such as yajna during puja, for wedding rituals, and other sacred traditions.

[3][4] According to the ancient Indian/Hindu-origin traditional medicine system of ayurveda, drinking water stored in the copper lota has health and nutritional benefits.

[14] According to the ancient Indian/Hindu-origin traditional medicine system of ayurveda, drinking water stored in the copper lota has health and nutritional benefits.

[5] It is used for jala neti, a traditional ayurvedic and yogic practice that is used for cleansing the nose and sinus passages through nasal irrigation.

The kindi , a spouted copper vessel traditionally used in Kerala, India .
9th-century spouted vessel, India
10th-century spouted vessel with deities, India
The karuwa , a lota-like spouted vessel commonly used for religious rituals and serving water and liquor in Nepal .
The bodna, a black spouted lota variation used in Bengal .